From 598 quotes ranging from $500 - 3,000

Average Cost

First Walk is on Us!

Jump to Section

What is Ichthyosis (Fish Scale Disease)?

This disorder is rare and appears to be breed specific. It can resemble many other skin conditions such as allergies, dermatitis, and localized reactions. It is most likely present at birth in your dog and can become painful if left untreated.

Your dog may present with thickened pads of his paws, irritated, flaking skin and other symptoms. He may not itch or scab and it does have some differences from other common conditions. This disorder can cause water loss in your dog as his skin is unable to maintain moisture.

Canine ichthyosis is also known as the “fish scale” disease. Your dog will have thickened skin with scaly and greasy patches and flakes.

Book First Walk Free!

Symptoms of Ichthyosis (Fish Scale Disease) in Dogs

Symptoms are very specific to this condition and while they can mimic other disorders, they are not caused by or related to other disorders. Some of the things to look for are:

Scaly skin – This symptom is why it is nicknamed the “fish scale” disease

Dandruff

Thickening of the skin and footpads – His paws may even appear to become enlarged and irritated, possibly causing pain

Thick, greasy flakes/scales – These will stick to his skin and hair and be difficult to remove

Types

General

Limited to rare disorders (congenital or hereditary)

Genetic testing and skin biopsies are used to diagnose officially

General diagnosis can be done just with symptoms

Epidermolytic Ichthyosis

Keratin formation defect

Been found in specific breeds (Rhodesian Ridgeback and Labrador cross)

Skin biopsy used to diagnose

Nonepidermolytic Ichthyosis

Autosomal recessive traits

Still young in veterinary medicine

Breed specific

Golden Retriever Ichthyosis

Relatively common

Mild form of scaling

Areas affected are on a dog’s trunk predominantly

Diagnosed by 1 year of age

Can be diagnosed in adulthood

American Bulldog Ichthyosis

More severe form of ichthyosis

Puppies have a scruffy coat

Skin takes on a wrinkled appearance

Skin lesions are more severe than Golden Retriever ichthyosis

Jack Russell Terrier Ichthyosis and other breeds

Mutation cause

Large, thick, parchment paper like scales

More severe than other types

Causes of Ichthyosis (Fish Scale Disease) in Dogs

The cause of ichthyosis in dogs is:

A recessive trait that both parents will have

The dog will be born with the condition

Breed specific :Golden Retrievers – most studies have been done on Golden Retrievers

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Doberman Pinscher

Jack Russell Terrier

Norfolk Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier

Diagnosis of Ichthyosis (Fish Scale Disease) in Dogs

If you suspect that your dog is suffering with ichthyosis bringing him to his veterinarian will be necessary. Your veterinarian will want to know the breed of your dog as this disease can be breed specific. The veterinarian will also want to know when you noticed the signs as they are often present at birth and worsen over time.

To diagnose the disorder, a skin biopsy will be done to determine the exact nature of your dog’s skin issues. It will also be important for your veterinarian to rule out any other possible conditions even though the symptoms are very clear to ichthyosis.

Lastly, your veterinarian can run the ICT-A which is a DNA test made for ichthyosis. This test can definitively identify the disorder or rule it out officially.

Treatment of Ichthyosis (Fish Scale Disease) in Dogs

Treatment options will be based mostly on maintenance of your dog’s symptoms. While the condition is not deadly, in more severe cases it can be very painful and uncomfortable for your dog. Treatment can be done by using shampoos and rinses for his skin, frequent brushing and grooming and possible medication treatment.

Skin Treatment

Mild anti-seborrheic shampoos and moisturizing rinses can be used frequently on your dog to help his skin and symptoms. Moisturizers can be used to create a protective layer on your dog’s skin and reduce his water loss.

Grooming

Frequent brushing can help your dog’s skin to rid itself of the greasy flakes that stick to his skin. This brushing can also allow the tightened skin to loosen up and allow your dog more comfort.

Medication

Topical treatments tend to be the best bet and are often oil based. These treatment options provide a protective barrier on your dog’s skin also. The retinoid Isotretinoin has been shown to improve the symptoms of ichthyosis in dogs. This medication can cause eye infections, hair loss, vomiting and other side effects when used.

The rate of relapse is high as there is no cure for this condition. It does tend to wax and wane over time even with treatment. Ongoing follow up with your veterinarian will be necessary.

Recovery of Ichthyosis (Fish Scale Disease) in Dogs

While some cases of ichthyosis are mild, they can be severe as well. Due to the severity of this disorder, ongoing and lifelong checkups will be necessary. These will be done to ensure there are no secondary infections of his skin and to see if any changes need to be made in his treatment to help prevent ongoing buildup of the scales on his skin.

Due to this being a lifelong condition some owners do choose to euthanize their dog if they are unable to give him a good quality of life. However, your dog can live with this condition if you are willing to be meticulous about his care. There may be times when his symptoms are minimal and when they get worse, so continuous care will be necessary to ensure a good quality of life.

My dog is nearly a year old toy poodle, when we got him we thought he just had puppy dandruff. His skin is flaky and scaly and on his belly it's black. The skin will shed and get everywhere. His foot pads are thick and seem bigger than they should be, he also always smells terrible, even right after a bath. I think he has Fish Scale disease, what do I do to help him? And how severe is it?

3 weeks, 6 days ago

Ollie's Owner

Dr. Michele King, DVM

1078Recommendations

There are many possible causes for Ollie's skin condition including bacterial or fungal infections parasites, or allergies. Since I cannot examine him or diagnose his condition, he will need to see a veterinarian to have his condition diagnosed so that he can get proper treatment. I hope that all goes well for him!

3 weeks, 6 days ago

Add a comment to Ollie's experience

Was this experience helpful?

Archie

Golden Retriever

2 Years

Mild condition

0 found helpful

Mild condition

I adopted my 2 year old golden retriever in January. When we got him I noticed a bald spot on his back it was dry and had black spots on it. I checked his whole body thinking they were fleas but it was just dirt that had attatched to the dry skin from him itching. Over the last few month I have noticed these spots more and I thought they were maybe from him itching and biting himself constantly and I’m starting to get worried. They have spread he has 3 or more on his back and around his neck he has a few on his legs and his whole chest is red with these spots. They are dry and flaky.

3 months ago

Archie's Owner

Dr. Callum Turner, DVM

2499Recommendations

There are various causes for dry flakey patches of skin in dogs which may include infections (bacterial, fungal, parasitic), hormonal imbalances, allergies, chemical irritation, seborrhoea among other causes. You could try to bathe Archie with a medicated shampoo containing benzoyl peroxide; however due to the varied number of different possible skin problems it would be best to visit your Veterinarian for an examination. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM

3 months ago

Add a comment to Archie's experience

Was this experience helpful?

Layla

Golden Retriever

3

Moderate condition

0 found helpful

Moderate condition

Has Symptoms

flaky, scaly skin in affected areas

Medication Used

none

We have recently adoption a 3 year old english cream golden retriever. She has this skin disorder. Her skin is black and she has white hair. We have been brushing her frequently. She doesn't seem bothered by her skin condition. However, I have been doing a lot of reading and it mentions oils/lotion to apply. I am not entirely sure how to do this since a golden retriever has so much hair. What about a certain kind of shampoo. Is there anything from a systemic standpoint that would be helpful for her. Fish oil? Let me know if there is anything in addition we could be doing.

10 months ago

Layla's Owner

Dr. Callum Turner, DVM

2499Recommendations

There are many different types of skin conditions, it is possible that Layla has seborrhoea sicca where the skin produces an excess of keratinous material leading to dry flakes on the skin. Using a shampoo from your local pet store containing benzoyl peroxidase should help. If you don’t see any improvement, visit your Veterinarian for a diagnosis. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVMwww.vetary.com/dog/condition/skin-disease-canine-seborrhea